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Questions to Ask When you Rent

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  • How is the apartment heated and cooled? Check the units to see what shape they are in. Also ask what utilities are included in the rent and which ones are your responsibility as a renter.
  • What is the maintenance policy? What fixes are included in the rent and which ones are not. If there are repairs that are not included in the rent, find out if there is an extra charge and how much it is. There should be a prompt emergency contact and a non-emergency line as well.
  • Who are the neighbors? Inquire if many children live in the building or if people with pets live around you.
  • What parking is available and is it included in the rent? Ask if any special permits are required to park in the lot or in the streets around the building.
  • Do all the appliances work? Check all the appliances and sinks to be sure they are working properly.

Before you sign the lease…

  • If anything was amiss during the walkthrough or not up to standards, negotiate a lower price to make up for these problems. You can also use yourself as a selling point to knock $50-$100 off the rent. Many apartment owners are willing to accept a little less rent for a responsible, mature tenant who will pay rent on time and keep the place well-maintained.
  • When is the rent due and what is the policy on late rent?
  • What types of provisions are in the lease for excessive noise or overnight guests? Read every line and be sure you understand what your part of the deal is.
  • Are you required to hold renter’s insurance? If so, how much will a policy cost?
  • Is the neighborhood safe? Walk the neighborhood at night (with a friend) and observe your surroundings. Also check online to see if crime reports are available for your neighborhood.
  • When can you move in your belongings? Check the move in/move out dates printed on the lease. If the 1st of the month falls on a Wednesday, can you move in the previous weekend or will you have to do a weekday move?
  • Get a copy of the lease and keep it in a safe place.
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  Comments  
     
 
Tina A.


How do most landlords or management companines work with potential renters who have less then perfect credit?

MICHAEL TODD


HOW DO THEY WORK WITH YOU IF YOUR CREDIT ISNT GOOD?

abdul


I manage a privatly held property management company. Speaking for my self bad credit can be overcome primarly in 2 ways.
1) A co-signer–usually a parent(s) with excellent credit although I have also accepted an employer as a co-signer as well.
2) A good income (verified) along with a healthy deposit should remedy the bad credit–good luck

tony


some people get into trouble in the past with bills. I feel that if you can verify your income for a certain amount of months and if they get in touch with your previous landlord then that should be the issue. I have bad credit but my rent is always early that is what they need to be looking at NOT the fact of ehats on your credit report. My salary is more than doubled. The fact that you can pay your rent or not should be the only issue. Alot of people will let other bills go but WILL pay what they need to to survive. America is to big on credit and i feel that this is the cause of people being homeless

 
 
 


How do most managament conpanines or landlords look at less then perfect credit? Will they work with you to get you in the apartmant or tell you to put down more money.

 
gail allen


I will be coming out of a chapter 13 in a couple of months. I have a stable & steady job.

 
James


It depends on the management company some will simply require an heavy deposit sometimes equal to that of the rent or automatic payment option, but not easy mostly co-signer

 


Interesting, but for all those questions it would be better to know the answer when you see the add…

 
 
john kuta and jenny eaton


how much is the power usely cost per month and what power company you guys have when we do move in how will we get our couches and our big tv stand in the apartment and can we move in on the 2 or 3rd of next month if so email me back ok?

 
renee


how do you get an apartment with bad credit?

FELICHA


HOW DO PEOPLE WITH BAD CREDIT GET A SECOND CHANCE ON RENTING OR BUYING A HOME. THERE ARE CAR DEALERS THAT GIVES SECOND CHANCES FOR THOSE WHO CAN NOT GET A CAR. LOOK AT CAR MART.

cynthiapickett


well i hace bad credit

 
 
David L. Jones


I’m in a program to correct my credit profile.

 
t miller


i have an incorrect eviction on my record from six years ago how do i correct and can i rent an apartment

 
 
Kailey


i never worked with a lease.. and it seems like it is a very difficult and stressful thing. what kind of things should i look for in a lease that will make it a “no”?

Liz


Kailey, Leases are not stressful or difficult at all. It is a meeting of the minds, a contract.Most apt. communities have their own leases. If there is something that you do not agree with then you dont sign the lease and you do’nt move in. Not signing the Lease would make it a “NO” Good Luck

 
 


How do u go by income to pay the rent?

larry a mercer


my rent was 155.00 a month when i moved.in a one bedroom apt.goverment subsidized.my friend moved in with me.i get social security in the amount of 820.00 and 56.00 dollars ssi.my friend gets 856.00 dollars ssi a month thats a total 1732.00 our rent now is 462.00 thats almost triple the rent for the same apartment i think thats to much with util, on top of that.

vanessa


where do you live!! thats cheap! a small studio is at least 800.00 in cali!

 
James McKnight


no i dont think it is to much its a small fraction of your income that we all are paying for you guys just need to budget better im talking to myself also tho… wish my damn rent was 4 hundred anything we american have jacked up minds thats less then a year salary othe places

 
 
Audrey Strain


I’m looking for a 2br 1ba apt. age 55+, not subsidized. I would like all hthe amenities that the HUD complexes have, except I want to pay for it.

 
 


This was very helpful. Thanks for pulling the list together.

 
steve


If you have less than perfect credit and if you can afford to do so, offer the landlord a couple of months rent inadvance for hi/her to rely upon in case you fall short. this may bolster his confidence in your responsibility.

Steve

 
William


this is very very help full. thanks!

 
Aisha


It’s not so much what’s in the lease that you want to be wary of, but rather what’s not in the lease. However…as for things in the lease, make sure that the lease isn’t too skewed in favor of the landlord; that is, if it states that you have to pay for all repairs for appliances–which can get VERY costly! If there are things that need to be fixed, make sure it goes in the lease. If the landlord said that he/she would knock off $100 from the rent or get you a new washing machine that works before you move in, make sure it’s in the lease. Landlords should take care of things like heaters and air conditioning units, as well. Anything you and the landlord discuss and agree upon verbally…make sure it’s in the lease. Don’t sign anything unless everything you agreed to is written down in that lease.

NEVER take a lease lightly…read it through and make sure you understand what’s going on and exactly what you’re getting into. It may be “boring paperwork,” but it’s also important and could end up saving your rear should something go amiss.

 
Krysta


Do not ask how many children are in the building or who your residents are. Due to fair housing landlords are unable to relinquish this information.

 
Robert Barbour


How do most landlords or management companies work with potential renters who have less than perfect credit?

 
Angela


I’m relocating and am unable to view the apartment before I move in. How can I make sure that anything that’s not how it should be when I move in (anything broken, leaking, dirty, not up to standards) is not my responsibility?

 
Korea


This is excellent information, i’m looking into getting my first apartment, I was looking for help on in-depth detail and you guys nailed it on the head !

 
Toni


well they will check to see how you were paying your rent at the last place you lived,and that is all they should check with your permission so,it doesn,t matter how your credit is as long as your last landlord gives you a good reference is all that matters so.

Brandi


I’m not sure what state you are in, but here in Florida. part of the application states that they will perform a credit, criminal, employement and rental history check. So, for some people credit can be an issue. Even if your old landlord gives you a good reference, if the new apartment guidelines are different or they are more expensives you may be declined. It can be hard for some people. I have know people to be declined because of their credit and they meet all the other criteria.

 
 
keanna


This site really helped me come up with more important questions to ask my future landlord(s) thank you!!!!!

 
Lee


This is a pretty good list - however - asking a landlord about the neighbors may not be a question a landlord can easily answer. Federal Fair Housing laws keep landlords from discussing how many kids live in a place - They have to rent to anyone who qualifies - that is, anyone who meets the credit, landlord verification and income required for the apartment, among other things.

 
Diana Muriel


this is great information!!! this is exactly what I need. Im 20yro with a husband and a 2 month year old. I know alot of landlords would try to over charge because im young. thanks for this site!!

 
judy


some people do not have good credit how do you deal trying to rent an apartment you want? some landlords may not want to knock off $50-$100 off an apartment thats clearly not worth the sky high price. how do you determine what an apartment is really worth? some landlords do not want children-how do you get around that? even though you do not have good credit or any credit is it o.k to be willing to pay 1 security and two rent-what is it o.k to do in that instance-someone let me know.

 
Ashley h.


Another thing I’ve found it a good idea to ask about is painting and hanging mirrors/pictures/art on the walls. Some landlords will prohibit you from making holes in the walls which make it hard to even hang a calender. Also, ask if you would be able to paint and if so if you have to paint the walls back to the original shade before you move out or if they will be taking care of that.

 
Kirsten


I am only 17 years old and I’m actually taking a course in high school for things like this. I am really glad I did more research then just that class, I really learned alot and appreciate this website! Thank you!

 
Chris


Remember also, even if an agreement is verbally committed, they are still responsible. I am taking a law class this semester and learned that a verbal agreement is just as good as a written one. Of course, they are just a little harder to prove.

Ruby


I have a question since you are in a law class. I was told by my landlord that they do work with a broken lease and with bad credit so, we put in the 125 dollar deposit plus the app.fee and checked up on it in a couple of days and they said that the application was denied! So, they kept our deposit and left us nowhere to stay. I dont know what to do. If this was promised to us that as long as we put in the deposit and have enough income to pay the rent. By the way Im from Texas. Any advise?

 
 
Candi


Hey hey hey

 
fleteria johnson


i wanted to know if u leasing from a low income apartment and if you forget to renew your lease and they try to make you pay 364 they had said that they send alot reminders to renew my lease but i never got anything not a letter on my door cause if i did i would have went to renew my lease. in rent when knowing that your income is real low and you get just 142 a month is there anyway thay can make you pay for something you ain’t got and they know you ain’t got well anyways me and my baby been homeless since i lost my apartment because of peppertree apts

 
Iyana


Are all apartments required to take Section 8 or Hano vochers?

Meanna


No all apartment do not accept Section8, the apartment that you may find that do take section8 may not be up to par! you will find a very few that do stand up to their repetation and keep their apartment up to standart,a very few here in Tulsa, But most of them are very runned down be careful of what you move into check everything out or you can fall a victum to a slum land lord

 
 


Hi I wanted to know how hard is it to get an apartment my credit isn’t so good at the moment but I have the money and I am in the reserve and I been wanting to rent an apartment how hard will that be?

 
Anna


Is there a certain amount of income that a renter has to make in order for the lease to be approved? And i have absolutely no credit is that a good thing or a bad thing? And also what would be a good month to move; when are the rents lower and the market stagnent?

 
christina


How will I able to get an apartment with hud and what kind of income do I need?

 
JoAnne


watch out for predator landlords and they are out there!the one’s who like to prey on people with not so good credit.

 


if u have 10 months still on lease n u live on 2nd fl apt u r in a wheelchair an 3 weeks ago doctors said u cannot walk up any steps anymore we have 17 steps an my wife cannt walk up them she is also bline.she is on dialisy we would like to move in somthing where there is a few steps. can i break my lease with help from doctor. ty

 
Linda


HOW DO YOU GET AN APARTMENT WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN EVICTED FROM ONE AFTER 17 YEARS.

 
Vicky


I really enjoyed reading this information. I feel that everyone should have an idea of what they’re gettng themselves into when they’re looking for an apartment. It is a very big responsibility, and you want to make the right choice.

At the moment I’m looking for both my fiance and I. I must its hard, and when I say hard its not because we can’t find anything; but because they’re so many ugly places out there charging so much money for a dumpy place.

Good luck to everyone.

v

 
Vikki


As a landlord, we are looking for someone who has paid rent on time, is employeed, credit ok if not perfect, no court or criminal records. We look at the overall picture and then decide what we can do for a resident. Not all landlord are out there for the $$$
some of us do really care, and are just looking for good people to join our community.

linda


Thanks for posting this. I am worried about not getting a place due to my credit. I have a excellent job as does my husband. I will be co-signing or renting a place in my name for my daughter. need to do this asap. your post is very helpful.

 
Heather


Say a couple have nearly 30 years of perfect rental history between them and then they both lose their jobs and get evicted after never having been late before (our apartments had a management change)

Would you automatically reject them becuase of the eviction no questions asked or do you listen to special circumstances? By the way we now make 4500.00 a month together too.

 
 
Amanda


I found this information very helpful because I am shopping for my first ever apartment, and those are definately some tips I would need! I absolutely do not want to be stuck in that kind of a jam EVER! Thank You :)

 
kourtnei


I am a first time renter.still living at home and would like to obtain a small, nice, crime free pad for me and my young daughter and suggestions would be very helpful

 
richardson


I’ve read all the comments,which were very good.I want to know why landlords only want working section 8.That’s Discrimination.It’s hard to find a place when your not working,i can pay my rent.

 


Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! oebjgiudbgsx

 
me


read this

 
george


We answered an add for a rental property
and after we had our walk thru we
were told that there was a “bidding
war” going on. The landlord then said
they liked us and would give us the
apartment for $150 more per month.
SOund fishy?

olaf


i would like to know information rental apartment for $150 more per month , that is true ? in portland ? where is place the cheapest rental apartment ? can you replay us very soon ok thank you smile !

 
 
Amanda


do you have to have good credit to rent an apartment. And what do you do if you don’t have good credit

 
Dino


The landlord advertised the apartment as a 4 bedroom when it was really a 3 bedroom..no eat in kitchen and I wasnt aware that the neighbors under me were party goers. I signed the lease, thinking that I could make the apartment work for me and my family. But after going to see it again 3 days later I called the landlord to tell him that it would not work for me. He sd that he would let me out of the lease but would not give my security deposit back. What’s the legal status on terminating the lease before moving in and getting my deposit back?

 
FELICHA


WE NEED SECOND CHANCE HOME CARRIERS.

 
Barbara


My question is…..Why is it that when two people (husband/wife)fill out an application and the credit is checked and one’s credit is not as up to par as the others, the manager has second thought about your ability to pay the rent?

This is a team effort, one makes more than what you must make to get the place and the second makes about$350.00 less than the first. Whats the big deal?

 
robert


MY QUESTION IS IVE LIVED HERE IN THESE SAME APARTMENTS FOR 5 YEARS AND I JUST RECIEVED A LETTER FROM THE APARTMENT OFFICE SAYING AT THIS TIME WE ARE NOT GOING TO RENEW YOUR LEASE. I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY? BUT I ASKED THE OFFICE AND THEY DIDNT TELL ME WHY THEY WONT RENEW MY LEASE.

 
julie


if a person gets evicted, they still do a move out walkthru???

 


My mother lives in Indiana currently, we are looking to relocate her closer to us, since she just had a knee operation and needs assistance, do you have that government program where the gov. pays a portion and my mother would cover the rest?, please reply.

 
Dee


I’m looking to rent an appt. but I have a recent forcloser on my record yes I lost my home I’m employed but will that affect my renting options

 
Lois Manning


I’m looking to rent an appt. but I will have a recent forcloser on my record; yes I lost my home, I’m employed but how much will that affect my renting options?

 
Kelli Bennett


I would like to know if it is possible to still lease an apartment when you are in Bankruptcy?

 
michael


My credit score is 540 due to 3 collection items (but they are all paid, but not updated correctly on my credit; I submitted disputes alread). Also, I have an insufficient notice on my credit that I have been disputing for the past year. It is now time to move and this is going to prevent me from getting another apartment from what I am being told. I have copies of the disptue letters I sent to corporate but corporate refuses to listen and wants $950. FYI, I have never paid rent late or bounced a check since I started renting in 1999.

Is there anything I can do?

patrick


I wouldnt worry sooo much about it. I just got approved at a complex on Nov 12th, and im in pre-foreclosure on my current condo. They pulled my credit, and notified me that my credit wasnt as bad as i thought it was. I am currently a 485 (Equifax) I have 3 30 day lates on my mortgage and a couple on bills. I found the best thing to do it to be “Honest” about your situation and do NOT try to hide anything. However, with the current housing crisis, i have believed as of late, that actually might have worked in my favor as the leasing agent informed me that there has been a influx of foreclosure traffic.

 
 
jessie


I would like to know if i dont have a lease can i get kicked out my apartment, well i went to recertify for a new lease but it has not been approved yet what exactly does that mean when it hasnt been approved .
What can i do, Should i see a lawyer?

 
lakayla


HOW OLD DO YOU HAVE TO BE TO BE ABLE TO GET AN APARTMENT?

 
Doug


My son has rented a apartment and when the lease was signed he refused to sign the mold release form because it stated that he was respondsible for all damage caused by mold, even if the mold was caused by the landlords neglect. now 2 months after mooving in they are demanding he sign it. Does he have to sign it since they allready have a lease and has mooved in?

 
Renee


Is it possible for me to move to a state find an apartment and that very day move in?

 
Renee


Is it at all possible to move to another state find an apartment and that very day move in? or will there be more involved?

 
robert


If I have a job making 7.50 an hour and living in a two bedroom apartment with 12 other people and I have a baby on the way how can I get a apartment before my baby come in this world?

 


I really need advice. My roommate moved in with me along time ago. He gets Hoppwa. Rental assistance. The landlord stated on the application for rental assistance that there was no lead paint. I had my walls checked and it is lead paint. Is this illegal and w